AI & PM - Real story 2 - Not AI, but How You Use It

The Product

Meet a top dog in the garment simulation world. These folks work with the big names in fashion, speeding up how fast new clothes go from idea to virtual look-see with their slick 3D simulations.

Challenge Time!

Fashion's going digital big time, and out go those old mood boards covered in magazine snippets. Now, everyone's chasing new ways to get inspired digitally.

Many fashion tech companies are throwing out the same old tricks: a bunch of buttons and a box where you type what you want, then poof—out pops a few finished designs, just like that.

Problem #1: Generative AI is Taking My Job

Designers are throwing up their hands, saying, "Hold up, we didn't want you to finish the job! We're the artists here; we just wanted a nudge in the right direction."

Problem #2: We Don’t Want Diversity & Inclusion

For football jerseys, diversity and inclusion principles don’t fit. We need jerseys that match the robust build of athletes, not a one-size-fits-all model.

Problem #3: Generative AI is Not Inspiring

"Since when does clicking a button or filling out a form spark creativity? We need real inspiration, not just prompts."

Problem #4: Not Invented Here

"Your AI tool is cool and all, but it's spitting out stuff that doesn't feel like us. We want our clothes to scream our brand."

Creativity to the Rescue!

Instead of cranking out final designs, we switched gears. We now serve up a mix of inspiring images—places, accessories, colors—that get designers thinking.

Designers can point out what they like, and that stuff gets tossed back into the AI, making the next round even sharper.

We tweaked the AI to better suit special needs, because while being fair and open is great, sometimes you need just the right fit.

We ditched the boring buttons and text boxes and started pulling in vibes from music, movies, and even the weather. Imagine a polo shirt getting a makeover from a hip-hop beat!

We also started mixing in bits from the customer's own style, making sure the AI's output looked like it came straight from the brand's own sketchbook.

Bottom Line

Time to shake things up! Sometimes you gotta steer the AI a bit to get it just right. Remember, AI's just a tool. A good product manager always keeps an eye on what their users really need and doesn't just do things because everyone else is. AI's a marvel—make sure your interface shows it off and lights up those creative sparks!